Borno South senator-elect, Ali Ndume, has shunned the election for the Deputy Senate Presidency after his defeat to Ahmed Lawan.
A former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu of the Peoples Democratic Party and Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress are the two contenders for the Deputy Senate President seat
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Omolori, who called each lawmaker out to vote in alphabetical order of the states and constituencies they represent, called Kashim Shettima of Borno-Central to cast his vote.
After Shettima had voted, Ndume’s name was called repeatedly but he refused to come forward to vote.
Ndume lost by a landslide to Ahmed Lawan, the new Senate President.
The National Working Committee (NWC).of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has endorsed Sen. Ali Ndume for the position of the Senate President of the 9th National Assembly (NASS).
The party in a statement issued by its National Secretary, Sen. Umar Tsauri, early on Tuesday also endorsed Mr Umar Bago for the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives. TSauri said that the endorsement was arrived at after very extensive consultations with critical stakeholders ahead of the inauguration of the 9th NASS “The final resolution on Sen. Ndume and Bago was reached at the end of a decisive meeting of members of the National Working Committee, party leaders, state governors as well as senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP. “This decision is in the best interest of the nation in line with our party’s determination to deepen democracy, ensure a strong and independent legislature, strict compliance with the principle of separation of powers as well as constitutional checks and balances in the polity.” “All senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP are to be guided accordingly,” he said. Ndume from Borneo is running against Sen. Ahmed Lawan from Yobe, who is the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Bago, a three-time member of the House of Representatives, will contest against Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, also chosen by the APC leadership. Lawan and Gbajabiamila became the leader of the Senate and leader of the House of Representatives respectively in the 8th NASS after losing contests for the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House in spite of the endorsement of the party in 2015.
There was confusion on Monday at the Edo State House of Assembly complex as the scheduled inauguration of the 7th Assembly could not hold over the absence of Governor Godwin Obaseki who was billed to proclaim the inauguration.
Armed security agents drawn from the Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) took over the premises of the assembly. The gates leading to the complex was under lock even as the operatives prevented staff from gaining access to their offices.
Chairman, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Umar Farouk, condemned the operatives’ action and that the police have no right to lock them outside their offices.
It is gathered that governor Obaseki was yet to transmit proclamation letter to the clerk, three days after the 6th Assembly winded up.
The development is coming over reported rift over supremacy battle between governor Godwin Obaseki and the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole.
Besides, it is learnt that the duo had shifted thier rift to the assembly where they intend to outsmart each other in a bid to ensure that their preferred candidates emerged as principal officers.
It is also gathered that the presence of the security agents was aimed at forestalling the lawmakers-elect loyal to Oshiomhole from electing principal officers in the governor’s absence.
Both men were said to have perfected plans to install their preferred candidate as speaker of the 7th Assembly which was scheduled for inaugurated yesterday.
The 24 members of the incoming assembly is wholly APC. While the governor is said to be backing a former majority leader of the Assembly, Frank Okiye, representing Esan North-East 1, ex-speaker, Victor Edoror representing Esan Central reportedly have the blessings of Oshiomhole. It was gathered that the odds favoured Edoror after 19 out of the 24 incoming legislators-elect attended a meeting called by Oshiomhole. The members reportedly adopted the National Chairman’s preferred candidate for the speakership position at the meeting. Special Adviser to Obaseki on Media & Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said governor Obaseki was away in Abuja following his election as vice chairman of Progressives Governors’ Forum.
According to him, the governor can’t be in Abuja and be doing proclamation of the assembly in Edo State. Crusoe however stated that security agents presence at the Assembly was to prevent people who may want to take advantage of the lacuna in the legislative arm to commit illegality.
The Kwara State Government has shifted activities commemorating the June 12 Democracy Day in the state to Friday June 14.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman in Ilorin on Monday said that the postponement was to enable the governor join his colleagues to honour the invitation of President Muhammadu Buhari to celebrate the inaugural celebration with other world leaders in Abuja on Wednesday.
“What this means is that the event slated for the Metropolitan Square and State Banquet in Ilorin will now hold on Friday 14th June instead of Wednesday June 12.
“Kwara will nonetheless observe the national holiday slated for June 12 as earlier announced by the Federal Government. There will be no new holiday on Friday.”
The statement noted that many other states are also changing their own schedules of the event in order to join President Muhammadu Buhari for the inaugural June 12 commemoration in Abuja.
“We urge the Kwara public and all invitees (from outside Kwara) to the events in Kwara State to please take note of this slight change in the schedule,” it added.
The president of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has been replaced by the presiding judge of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, Justice M.L. Garba, has replaced
Mr Garba, who appeared on the five-man panel for the first time on Monday, takes charge of the tribunal, following the withdrawal of Mrs Bulkachuwa from the panel on May 22.
Mrs Bulkachuwa recused herself from the panel, followings allegation of likelihood of bias levelled against her by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its candidate in the February 23 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar.
The petitioners are challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, All Progressives Congress, APC, in the election.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially adopted Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege for the position of Deputy Senate President. The party also adopted Hon. Muhammed Idris Wase as the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives. The decision was reached at the emergency meetings of the NWC over the weekend. A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said that the decision was arrived at following a wide consultations with President Muhammadu Buhari and party stakeholders including the APC governors.It would be recalled that the party had earlier adopted Sen. Ahmad Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively. The statement directed all the elected APC members of the Senate and House of Representatives to fully mobilise as a united force behind the party’s choice.It also urged members who had earlier showed interest in these positions to toe the party line by supporting the party’s decision.
The eight Lawmakers-elect for 9th Kwara State House of Assembly from Kwara North senatorial district have formally endorsed Hon Salihu Yakubu Danladi, Ilesha-Baruba/Gwanara Constituency as Consensus Candidate for the Speakership position.
The decision was reportedly taken during a meeting attended by all eight members at the Residence of Hon. Babatunde Abdulkareem representing, Ipaye/Malete/Oloru State Constituency.
This follows the decision of Kwara APC leadership and Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to zone the position to the senatorial district.
In a brief chat with newsmen after the meeting, Hon. Mohammed Baba Salihu said they unanimously picked Salihu Yakubu Danladi due to his competence, capability and in the spirit of equity, Justice as well as fairness.
Hon Baba Salihu noted that the Speaker Hopeful is the youngest among them and he is supported to further encourage youth participation in politics.
He lauded Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and APC leadership for their uprightness and fairness in sharing of political positions, saying ‘the new dawn of greatness is here’.
The eight Lawmakers-elect however urged other members from Kwara South and Central to support Hon. Yakubu Danladi during their inauguration on Tuesday in the spirit of oneness, unity and cohesion of the party.
The 34 Year-old Danladi is a graduate of Engineering from Federal University of Technology Minna. He worked for about 10years at FUTMinna before resigning to contest for House of Assembly election.
The Speaker Hopeful is happily married with a child.
The Kano Emirate Council has officially responded to the query issued to the Emir of Kano Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II by the Kano State Government through the office of the SSG Alhaji Usman Alhaji.
Media aide to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje who announced this said the letter containing the reply by the Emir was received within the stipulated time frame of 48hrs as stated in the query.
Emir Sanusi had contrary to the claims in the letter that he misappropriated N3.4 billion said the amount he inherited from the coffers of the Emirate Council was just over N1.8 billion.
The Emir also said the Secretary of the Council was the accounting officer of the palace and not him. (See the letter below)
Mallam Maddibo Kawu, the D-G, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has suspended the licence of Daar Communications for failure to abide by Nigerian Broadcasting Code.
The Director-General of NBC, Malam Is’haq Modibbo-Kawu made this known on Thursday in Abuja.
Kawu said over the last two years, NBC summoned the management of the company to address issues regarding the operations of AIT and Raypower; particularly Political Platform and Kakaaki.
He explained that in one of its meetings with the company held on June 2, 2017 the commission expressed its disappointment with the way and manner hate speech, divisive and inciting comments are applied in discussion of national issues in breach of the provisions of the NBC Act and Broadcast Code.
According to Kawu, Daar Communications has over the years turned itself into a bad example of how a professional broadcast outfit should not be run.
“In their relationship with the NBC, Daar communications carry on as if it is beyond the regulatory direction of the commission.
“They don’t pay their licence fees as and when due and its broadcast is patently partisan and one sided and deliberately inciting and heating up the polity.
“The management of the Company has created the habit of using the channel to fight its personal battles contrary to the statutory requirements of the law.”
The D-G said on June 6 AIT and Raypower embarked on use of inflammatory, divisive, inciting broadcasts, and media propaganda against the government and the NBC for performing its statutory functions of regulating the broadcast industry in Nigeria.
“Recently, NBC monitoring reports on AIT and Raypower indicate the use of divisive comments accredited to the segment of “Kakaaki”, tagged, “Kakaaki Social”,
“Where inciting comments like, “Nigeria is cursed, “we declare independent state of Niger Delta”, “Nigeria irritates me”, “this country is gradually Islamising” and other similar slogans are used without editorial control in breach of the broadcast Code.
“Consequently, after several meetings with management of Daar Communications P.l.c and many letters of warning.
“The NBC, today June 6, 2019 took a decision to suspend the licence of Daar Communications Plc for failure to abide by the commission’s directives, the provisions of the NBC Act Cap N11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“This decision is based on the provisions of Section 10 of the Third Schedule of the NBC Act Cap N11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which states that where in the opinion of the commission the station has been used in a manner detrimental to national interest.
“NBC Act also states that where there is wilful or repeated failure to operate substantially as set forth in the licence.
“Where there is wilful or repeated violation or wilful or repeated failure to observe any provision of this Act or any rule or regulation of the Commission authorised by this Act or by a treaty ratified by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Where there is violation of or failure to observe any cease and desist order issued by the Commission and where a provision of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code has been seriously breached. And the shut down order is until further notice”.
Kakaki 